In the middle of a detail issues ... quick help?

[Jerseykid]

Hey guys, first time with my pc kit and im kinda stuck with a procedure problem right now. I already did my 2 bucket wash, then went right into claying. Unfortunately, this is where the problem begins .. I am outside under a canopy which doesn't cover the whole car, and it started to light rain. Of course it starts the second I finish claying. The front end is poking out, and its already forming beads. I used alot of detail spray and its all over the car. Should I rewash completely and start with the pc, or should I wipe off the parts that are covered and use the pc there?

 

Also, I saw swirl marks in the direct sun the other day, now under the canopy in the shade, I can't find a single one. I know I don't have the best light in the world, but its kinda bright and halogen. Even the flash in my camera doesn't bring any out. The car is white btw. This startles me because now I have no idea what to look for on my 2x2 test spot if I can't see anything? I really wanted to get this done today no matter the time. Its my only car, and I certainly don't want to leave it with the paint at its most vulnerable point. Advice? Tips? Am I in over my head?

[Jerseykid]

Claying will not correct the swirls. I can find swirls with just about any light. It's all about the right angle. I have a hand held 500w halogen and can't see any swirls if I don't have the proper angle of light bouncing off the surface into the correct angle into my eye balls.

 

Your swirls are still there. Yes, after claying, the surface looks a lot better after the embedded junk had been removed. Keep playing with the light to get the right angle. If you just go ahead and use the SHR you will correct some stuff but to what level you won't know. For me, I can't work like that.

 

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

I understand and I don't want to guess either. The light im using is a 500 watt handheld. I've been moving it everywhere, laying down, standing, me standing, me laying down. I really can't find anything right now. I found a few light scratches I didn't see earlier, but the swirls are hiding.

[Jerseykid]

white is a hard color to correct! i have 2 white cars, but luckily i've treated them nicely with Adam's since day 1 with zero dealer prep.

 

i had the same problem you had when i was correcting my truck last fall. only time i ever saw a hint of swirls was in direct sunlight. all i did to correct it was a couple passes of FMP until it flashes.

 

my paint looked like this under a camera flash before and after polishing!

 

Man texas, no kidding ... that picture looked like the same exact way mine did. Sadly, i wish i knew what i knew now because i would have told the dealer not to clean it when i picked it up

 

You can use a street light at night and mark the areas you need to do with some painters tape!

 

I'll give that a shot next time, there is a street light right outside my house .

[Green Machine]

You can use a street light at night and mark the areas you need to do with some painters tape!

[Z71_Denali]

white is a hard color to correct! i have 2 white cars, but luckily i've treated them nicely with Adam's since day 1 with zero dealer prep.

 

i had the same problem you had when i was correcting my truck last fall. only time i ever saw a hint of swirls was in direct sunlight. all i did to correct it was a couple passes of FMP until it flashes.

 

my paint looked like this under a camera flash before and after polishing!

[Jerseykid]

http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/cars/17658.htm#post305628

 

Just compiled all of my detail in this thread. Thanks everyone

[gencoupe3dot8]

DJ,

Couple notes:

1) White cars are a challenge to catch swirls with

2) Detailing is part practice, part art form

3) Technique trumps product (for the most part)... this may also include fancy lights...

 

I have an idea.... go look at your car IN THE DARK... with a smaller LED flashlight... but rather than staring at where the light source is, from behind, hold it at arms length and look at the paint beside the light source from the side. Or.. pull the halogen lights back a little then walk up and down the car... again looking beside the light source... moving around til you catch where you think the swirls were... or if u see them in the sun again, throw a little painters tape on the spot and see if u can see them in the dark... I have seen a few detailers actually polish with only a light or two for this very reason on white cars....

 

If you are still having problems send me a PM and maybe we can hook up... I'm not that far away in Woodbridge..

 

and as always...

 

:worth:

[Jerseykid]

Im not entirely too sure what happened but i am now waiting for the sealant to dry. I kinda just went for it . Now i see why everyone who does it has a garage with nice lights. Doing it outside , under a canopy with 2 500watt lights just doesn't work that great. Im definitely going to try and get to a clinic , or meet up with someone on here to watch them work. I think i took on a little to much at one time.

 

But anyway .... I know its going to be far from perfect, but i hope its better than it was atleast. Car looked great after the claybar. I'll upload some pictures tomorrow in the cars section to see my "work".

 

Thanks again for the replies everyone.

[mc2hill]

I started with the fine machine polish in a 2x2 area, and I've been on half the hood for about an hour. I either have no idea what flashing really is or im doing something wrong. The pad dusted a little, so I hit it with the detail spray. I don't really understand what's going on, I mist the pad, then runover my 2x2 area and the fmp seems to just go clear immediately. Using my light at all angles, its like its not even there. Only time I really saw something is when it dusted. Junkman showed flashing in one of his videos and said to look for that and mine doesn't seem to be doing that. I even put some painters tape on the backing plate to make sure its rotating slowly and im only moving a few inches every couple of seconds.

 

The videos make it look so easy, sigh.

 

It almost sounds like you are going too slow. If you are working outside and it is warm, the polish may flash very quickly. I would try 3-5 passes (up and down is one pass, side to side is #2, etc.) with FMP and that should be sufficient.

[ChargerMatt]

I started with the fine machine polish in a 2x2 area, and I've been on half the hood for about an hour. I either have no idea what flashing really is or im doing something wrong. The pad dusted a little, so I hit it with the detail spray. I don't really understand what's going on, I mist the pad, then runover my 2x2 area and the fmp seems to just go clear immediately. Using my light at all angles, its like its not even there. Only time I really saw something is when it dusted. Junkman showed flashing in one of his videos and said to look for that and mine doesn't seem to be doing that. I even put some painters tape on the backing plate to make sure its rotating slowly and im only moving a few inches every couple of seconds.

 

The videos make it look so easy, sigh.

 

In all honesty man, you're making it too hard. Go around and do two passes on each pass. That usually works for me. You'll get the details ironed out later when you get more practice.

[Jerseykid]

I started with the fine machine polish in a 2x2 area, and I've been on half the hood for about an hour. I either have no idea what flashing really is or im doing something wrong. The pad dusted a little, so I hit it with the detail spray. I don't really understand what's going on, I mist the pad, then runover my 2x2 area and the fmp seems to just go clear immediately. Using my light at all angles, its like its not even there. Only time I really saw something is when it dusted. Junkman showed flashing in one of his videos and said to look for that and mine doesn't seem to be doing that. I even put some painters tape on the backing plate to make sure its rotating slowly and im only moving a few inches every couple of seconds.

 

The videos make it look so easy, sigh.

[Jerseykid]

I just used the same light on my mom white car and I see a million swirls. I guess im just going to polish and wax it. I don't really know what else to do.

[Integrity Detailing, LLC]

Claying will not correct the swirls. I can find swirls with just about any light. It's all about the right angle. I have a hand held 500w halogen and can't see any swirls if I don't have the proper angle of light bouncing off the surface into the correct angle into my eye balls.

 

Your swirls are still there. Yes, after claying, the surface looks a lot better after the embedded junk had been removed. Keep playing with the light to get the right angle. If you just go ahead and use the SHR you will correct some stuff but to what level you won't know. For me, I can't work like that.

 

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[jayhuffdaddy]

alrighty, just wiped the whole car down with detail spray again. it looks so much nicer , i cant believe the difference just clay made.

 

However, should i just do one swirl and haze remover pass over the whole car?

 

Only if it needs it. If not, move right into the fine machine polish.

[Jerseykid]

alrighty, just wiped the whole car down with detail spray again. it looks so much nicer , i cant believe the difference just clay made.

 

However, should i just do one swirl and haze remover pass over the whole car?

[Jerseykid]

If you are having trouble seeing swirls you can use a small flashlight a few inches off the paint

 

I went ahead and tried that after you said it, only thing we have is LED flashlights but it also didnt bring any out.

 

 

This is frustrating, its like the swirls vanished? Should i do one pass of swirl and haze over the whole car just in case?

[ChargerMatt]

If you're going to correct the paint, just wipe her down. You are fixing them anyway... at least that's my mentality.

[Jerseykid]

 

 

 

 

 

Contrast turned all the way up.

 

One hood , one door, and two trunk pics. The trunk looked like it had alot in the sun the other day when it was dirty.

 

The spots in the pictures are from the detail spray after claying. Ugh.

[billawd]

If you are having trouble seeing swirls you can use a small flashlight a few inches off the paint

[Jerseykid]

Just spray a little DS on the hood and wipe it down, you'll be good to go with the polish

 

Swirls are hard to see on white, you can always take a picture then adjust the contrast with software to see the difference.

 

 

 

 

Thank you.

 

Awesome about the detail spray. Let me go get my camera , and take a few shots - then see how they come out in photoshop.

[Bill-V8V]

Just spray a little DS on the hood and wipe it down, you'll be good to go with the polish

 

Swirls are hard to see on white, you can always take a picture then adjust the contrast with software to see the difference.